Budin is a small village about 2 hours from Dili. The government school has 224 students and 6 teachers (two of whom are volunteers).
There are 5 classrooms for the 224 students in two buildings. One building (3 classrooms) is fine, however the other (with 2 classrooms) is in terrible condition with rotting roof beams and is dangerous. The toilets are also unusable and need repair.
Budin has been identified by the Timor-Leste Ministry of Education as being the highest priority for assistance, however it does not have the money to help them in the foreseeable future. The school needs a new 4 classroom building. The toilets need repair and refurbishing but there is water access available.
The Rotary Club of Batemans Bay is joining forces with Spend It Well as a major donor to erect the building and toilet block at Budin school.
The total cost will be approximately $74,000 AUD and all funds have been raised. The construction is about to be commenced and will take approximately four months to complete. All administration costs are separately funded by Spend It Well leaving donated funds to go to directly to the project.
It is exciting to hear that an anonymous donor has offered to fund the construction of a basketball court at the school at the completion of the new classrooms.
Jeff Thorpe
International Director
